Perhaps of Note:

[Glamdring]

Apparently the House of Reps hates teenagers (http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/28/1428251) and doesn't want them to have a social life.

Or maybe the House of Reps loves teenagers and doesn't want them to be stalked, raped, and brutally murdered. Could be either, or both.

Either way, the House has voted 410-15 (that's a pretty overwhelming majority, in case you suck at math) to ban myspace, friendster, "social networking sites" and "chatrooms" from schools and other public places. Adults will be allowed access to such sites with permission.

This could be anything from just blocking off the biggest ones to blocking off anything that has members posting profiles (and probably pictures as well). So one wonders whether TAO will be given a label as a "social networking" site... especially since a main component of the game is a "chatroom".

Personally I think myspace is the worst thing to happen to the internet in years, and it wouldn't bother me one bit if every one of their servers spontaneously imploded. Also, keeping kids safe is more important than anything, really, and "social networking" sites are really not safe for kids.

On the other hand, this represents a step against freedom of speech that the government has never taken before: restricting access to specific websites on a federal level, even if the bill is meant to only affect children, is an action we would normally only expect to see in china.

All kinda scary.

[EricH]

Woot. AOL get's banned publically!

[bobo99]

I have a myspace, there should be an age restriction on it. If anyone wants to keep there profile secret just set it to private and make it so the person needs your last name or email adress to add you as a friend. If they send you a message simply delete it and no harm done. I seriously doubt that they will ban TAO.

[T3km4n]

If you go on myspace at school or a library you should die anyways.

[Daemon Bloodmaw]

I think it is a good step.

Personally, I love myspace. I love myspace because I just graduated high school and all of my best friends are shipping out to different colleges and myspace is the easiest way for me to keep in touch with my buddies.

On the other hand, 90% of teenagers on myspace are RETARDED. Darwin's law in action. "Help, I acted like a 2-bit skank on myspace and was treated like one!" Uh, duh? When a guy comments something like "Dam u lookin fine gurl, hit me up sumtym" and you say something back, you're a retard and get what's coming. The girl who flew to Jordan should've been left there, let nature take its course.

In fact, this may be one of the most mature message boards I've seen. Never ever read the comments at blabbermouth.net, ever. Your IQ drops a point per post.

But bottom line is, why should kids need myspace or chatrooms at school, where they should be learning? Libraries is a little steep, but I understand schools. Besides, that is what proxies are for. If it affects college (I go to a state college) I will be pissed though, I'm 18, it's my computer, fsck off.

PS - Heya Glammy :)

[HorNeT]

Don't bring attention to ourselves, and we won't be recognized.

Let's just stay on the DL for a while.

[Realist]

Keep in mind that the ban only applies to schools and libraries. In my school I was never allowed to use computers for anything other than schoolwork anyways...and how many teenagers even go to libraries these days?

[mushroom_girl]

My school already bans those sites, so I don't really care. They also ban TAO, but that's another story.

I use MySpace, but only for my friends. I have it on private so that only my friends can see it (people I accept).

This law isn't a big deal. If anything, I agree with it. Stalk people in the privacy of your own home, not in a library.
------------------
TAO wouldn't be considered a social site, as much as a gaming site.

The priority of this game is to be just that...a game. Sure, people chat alot. But it's not the same as a MySpace or a Facebook. On MySpace it's alot easier to have information put out that you don't want to (Ex: your school, your town, your picture, etc.)

Here you can just talk and play a game. But I still can't access it in my school, because it is a gaming site. :dry:

[HorNeT]

Hey, that's where all the cool kids like myself go to study!

[Livre]

In my school there is a ban on all 'Non-educational' sites anyway (basically every site that has ever been made :angry: ). We are allowed google but all the links are blocked.

Whats the point in the council paying money to fund internet bills when it can't be used? Especially when the money could be used on more important things such as crime and sport facilities. Does not make sense to me.

Oh, and they say it helps us learn more this way, but the only thing i have learned is how to spell the word "BLOCKED" in my sleep. :p

[R G]

Apparently the House of Reps hates teenagers (http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/28/1428251) and doesn't want them to have a social life.

Or maybe the House of Reps loves teenagers and doesn't want them to be stalked, raped, and brutally murdered. Could be either, or both.

Either way, the House has voted 410-15 (that's a pretty overwhelming majority, in case you suck at math) to ban myspace, friendster, "social networking sites" and "chatrooms" from schools and other public places. Adults will be allowed access to such sites with permission.

Or perhaps congress is doing something about putting an end to distractions that interrupt kids from learning...

This could be anything from just blocking off the biggest ones to blocking off anything that has members posting profiles (and probably pictures as well). So one wonders whether TAO will be given a label as a "social networking" site... especially since a main component of the game is a "chatroom".

Personally I think myspace is the worst thing to happen to the internet in years, and it wouldn't bother me one bit if every one of their servers spontaneously imploded. Also, keeping kids safe is more important than anything, really, and "social networking" sites are really not safe for kids.

On the other hand, this represents a step against freedom of speech that the government has never taken before: restricting access to specific websites on a federal level, even if the bill is meant to only affect children, is an action we would normally only expect to see in china.

All kinda scary.

TAO - "The Game itself" could be used to strengthen cognitive ablilities...much like Chess.

As far as your comment about this being a step against freedom of speech...Well that is absurd...No difference than an employer not allowing their workers to search for porn. Work is a place to work and school is a place to learn. Simple as that...

[T3km4n]

Or perhaps congress is doing something about putting an end to distractions that interrupt kids from learning...

This could be anything from just blocking off the biggest ones to blocking off anything that has members posting profiles (and probably pictures as well). So one wonders whether TAO will be given a label as a "social networking" site... especially since a main component of the game is a "chatroom".



TAO - "The Game itself" could be used to strengthen cognitive ablilities...much like Chess.

As far as your comment about this being a step against freedom of speech...Well that is absurd...No difference than an employer not allowing their workers to search for porn. Work is a place to work and school is a place to learn. Simple as that...
I agree with your arguement aside from the part about schools allowing kids to use TAO because of it's strengthening of your cognitive abilities. Most games can claim the same, but since it is a game, it will not be allowed.

[Glamdring]

As far as your comment about this being a step against freedom of speech...Well that is absurd...No difference than an employer not allowing their workers to search for porn. Work is a place to work and school is a place to learn. Simple as that...
I'm not at all disagreeing with what was actually done. The point I was trying to make with the "freedom of speech" statement was that for the first time, the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has taken action against specific websites. I don't even think it's a bad step, I just think it's interesting that this is the closest they've *ever* come to actually interfering with the internet. (aside from p2p issues like the napster of old)

[shatterstar]

I'm glad this is being done. I was halfway through college when the Facebook boom happened. Facebook is used heavily for stalking and getting personal-details for non benevelont purposes. There was recentyl a case where a university got on facebook and used uploaded photos to pull up a group of students who rushed the field during a football game.
Worse, Now employers are using it to get all our gory details and making decisions on parts of your personality that dont have anything to do with the job.

since kids will never have the sense to not put sensitive information on these sites, i'm glad some modicum of control is being installed. Freedom of expression be damned, we have plenty already. A minor curtailing of those rights for greater safety and privacy is worth it.

[uniquinous]

I love facebook - not for me, but for it's ability to one day completely screw over future politicians. :evilsmile:

The problem with the whole "haven for sexual predators" argument is that this motion only serves to remove children, not the predators. Meaning the kids who ARE left on these things, during home hours for example, are being moved closer to the predators due to an increased concentration. You can't solve this problem by removing the innocents.

I do however agree that kids shouldn't be using school computers for cyber... and they do.

[Northwind]

This law is stupid and has nothing to do with either hating teenagers or protecting children. It is simply a way for politicians to look like they are doing something about the scourge of social networking that is currently infecting our youth. :rolleyes:

As several people have already noted, these sites were already banned in almost all schools to begin with. So why do we need a federal law to do what's already being done? Simple. To make politicians look like they are stepping up to the plate now that everyone's all up in arms about Myspace, etc.

I try not to get too cynical about politicians in Washington or elsewhere. However, this clearly seems like it was designed to "make a statement" rather than to actually change anything. Boo hiss.

I agree that people shouldn't have access to Myspace at school. I disagree that a pointless federal law is the best way to accomplish this.

[R G]

I agree with your arguement aside from the part about schools allowing kids to use TAO because of it's strengthening of your cognitive abilities. Most games can claim the same, but since it is a game, it will not be allowed.


Most games are shoot and kill not really much thought process is involved.

Other games are just sheer luck...Life, Chutes and Ladders, Yatzee...all the roll of the dice or spin of the wheel...very little thought goes into it.

Chess, Checker and games like TAO do involve more cognitive abilities than the average game.

[S_K_O_F]

Apparently the House of Reps hates teenagers (http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/28/1428251) and doesn't want them to have a social life.

Or maybe the House of Reps loves teenagers and doesn't want them to be stalked, raped, and brutally murdered. Could be either, or both.

Either way, the House has voted 410-15 (that's a pretty overwhelming majority, in case you suck at math) to ban myspace, friendster, "social networking sites" and "chatrooms" from schools and other public places. Adults will be allowed access to such sites with permission.

This could be anything from just blocking off the biggest ones to blocking off anything that has members posting profiles (and probably pictures as well). So one wonders whether TAO will be given a label as a "social networking" site... especially since a main component of the game is a "chatroom".

Personally I think myspace is the worst thing to happen to the internet in years, and it wouldn't bother me one bit if every one of their servers spontaneously imploded. Also, keeping kids safe is more important than anything, really, and "social networking" sites are really not safe for kids.

On the other hand, this represents a step against freedom of speech that the government has never taken before: restricting access to specific websites on a federal level, even if the bill is meant to only affect children, is an action we would normally only expect to see in china.

All kinda scary.


This is in Public Government funded schools only. The Government has every right to limit what kids can look at as long as the school is running off of it's money.

[shatterstar]

The problem with the whole "haven for sexual predators" argument is that this motion only serves to remove children, not the predators. Meaning the kids who ARE left on these things, during home hours for example, are being moved closer to the predators due to an increased concentration. You can't solve this problem by removing the innocents.

I do however agree that kids shouldn't be using school computers for cyber... and they do.

The children will always be there. As will the predators. this move helps remove the information. a lot less kids will be adding their home addresses and phone numbers using these sites from home. of course, that is if we assume that this step will go hand-in-hand with some parental awareness of these sites.

[Match Strike]

I do however agree that kids shouldn't be using school computers for cyber... and they do.

secksy_gurl: im wearing a small black bra an pantis

hotguy3456: omg hawt. i take off my pants

secksy_gurl: cum heer baby, i want to rub ur manhood all over me

hotguy3456: i pul u closer

hotguy3456: u smell liek perfume and flowrs

secksy_gurl: i luv it wen u tak that way big man!! cum here!!!

*Disconnected*

"Aw man, #### you, congressional jerks!"

[Kreator]

I think that myspace is fun - to laugh at. Some people's profiles are hilarious, as others are just plain creepy. Those sites were already banned at my school, anyways, and the teachers and other buttheads look at what you're doing anyway. If they did ban those sites, it would make a difference, just not a very big one. People could take their laptops or other internet sources to librarys and schools if they want to have comeplete freedom on the internet in those places.

[shatterstar]

Laptops generalky need to use the school network for net access. (unless you go sit in a krystal) PDAs/Bakcberrys can access 'em but few if any kids have such gadgets.

[The Pirate]

Keep in mind that the ban only applies to schools and libraries. In my school I was never allowed to use computers for anything other than schoolwork anyways...and how many teenagers even go to libraries these days?

Libraries have free internet. If mine goes down I sometimes go there.

I think the government should not let that bill pass, same reason Anarchist Cookbook can still be purchased. Sure it could possible harm us if we are stupid, but it is still free speech and personal entertainment.

Lets ban televison as well. I see so many ways to harm people on television all the time. Protect the world and ban television and its harmful messages.

Seriously, government should put minor restrictions, not ban things.

When I was in high school they banned proxy servers too.

[Realist]

Perhaps the most interesting part of this story is that its yet one more enroachment by the federal government on local governments, which have traditionally controlled schools and libraries....

Do the feds really think that individual states can't deal with the Myspace scourge on their own?

Yep, this is obviously just being done as a show for some cheap votes.

[Match Strike]

Cynics like you are a big problem in America today.

Which side of the Culture Wars are you on anyways, buster?

[Jeffery]

Finally, someone starts taking Myspace down a few notches....

/me sends letters recommending they haxor Myspace and kill the site using the wartime powers act.